MORE than 300 homes could be built on the outskirts of Worcester if plans are approved.

A decision for 175 homes on land to the east of Oak View Way off Bromyard Road will be made by Worcester City Council planners on Thursday (September 20) and would accompany up to 150 homes already approved in an outline application by Malvern Hill District Council planners in July.

In the 175 home application, 40 per cent will be affordable – as per the city council’s obligation – with around half of the site forming public open space and will also include a children’s play area.

Developer Bloor Homes Western is keen to start building as soon as possible and has said it hopes to lay the first bricks within a year if plans are given the thumbs up.

The land was previously owned by the University of Worcester after it was bought from Tesco in 2009 with plans for it to be transformed into a multi-million pound business, science, and sport park – thus the area in the application is allocated for a University campus in the South Worcestershire Development plan (SWDP).

Land to the south and east of the site does fall within green space allocated under the SWDP but that does not mean house building should be immediately rejected.

Council planners have looked at the precedent in the area for housing developments and are satisfied the homes plan provides enough landscaping and green space – 5.22 hectares according to the plan – to not be overbearing or out of character.

Under the proposals, a loop road will also be built circling the site as well as new footpaths and upgrades to footpaths adjacent to the Worcester-Malvern railway line and underneath the A4440 which are currently ‘unattractive’ and poorly lit. The need for improved pedestrian links to Rushwick has been recognised.

The council’s conservation area panel expressed some concern and said the plan “lacked any sense of place” and “appeared to be an exercise in achieving a specific number of units.”

It said: “There is currently a high degree of public use on and around the site and this must be considered as an important part of any design.

“Overall, the panel has no objection to the principle, but would wish to see the scheme footprint re-designed and concluded therefore that the scheme was not acceptable in its current format.”

Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, said more attention needs to be paid in linking the houses to public transport as well as cycling and pedestrian routes.